This past Saturday, after we did our “Saturday Thang,” we had a little party, a get together if you will, at The Less Desirables Official Emerald Isle, Finnigan’s Wake. There was a decent crowd. I would have liked it to be bigger, but there were several factors involved.

The Original The Less Desirables (l-r) Brian, Tim, Eugene

One, it was the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, which is this Wednesday. So, I figure there were a lot of folks that went out to eat at that time; that was their date time.

Two, the weather was atrocious. It was snotty and wet. Some people just don’t go out in that. If we didn’t have this party, we’d have gone to dinner and gone home. I get it.

Third, I was a little late getting the invites out. However, I really enjoyed the folk that came out.

Let’s throw this down first. The BCPF was with me. She is so supportive of me and TLD. She has always been. I love when she’s by my side.

Superfan Damien made his way out here from Durham. He was the first in and the last one out. That’s awesome. My new pal, Tim and his wife, Amy (whom I have known since she was 14), were there. Past TLD guest, Tracy Bush, the Nutrimom, was there and she had an entourage. Friends Michael and Karen Hoch were there. Also, a past guest, Jordan Googe, was there. A childhood friend, Shonna came and brought her friend Misty. Bethany from The Less Desirables was there for her first TLD party. My new friend Jeff (whom I’ll be doing a podcast with soon) brought a pal of his.

I loved having all those folks there with me. But, I was in for a very unexpected surprise. Two very special guests showed up, surprising me. Eugene was across the street doing work at the local radio station. He came over and sat with us for a bit.

But, the big one was Brian. Brian, the ORIGINAL co-host of TLD. He what started the show with me over eight years ago. He came down from Virginia to celebrate with us. I had chills and was so excited. Both him and Eug being there was amazing.

I thank each and every one of the attendees for being there and their support. Thank you, too, to Opie and the folks at Finnigan’s Wake for their support of us over the years. Thank you to Laura and Brittany for taking care of all of us.

Thank you, Dear Reader, for your support of us over the years, as well.

I’m going to piggyback The Man Who Ate the Town as I always do, but I’m also going to talk about what I said I was going to talk about, yesterday. Kelly and I talk about Camino’s new co-owners, Super Bowl and our food for the big game, Wise Man, Willows and a brand new Asian place called Dynasty. You can hear about that HERE.

Now, on to the other thing. This past Saturday, February 3rd, was the EIGHTH anniversary of the very first recording of The Less Desirables podcast. I tell this story every year and I know you get tired of reading about it but here goes anyway…

Brian and I sat in what is now my son’s bedroom and labored over what we were going to talk about for twenty minutes. This after we spent an hour running around getting all the right cables and such together from where the bands I was in practiced. We pulled it off and the next week we did it again. And the next. And so on. Our first outside guest was Brian’s brother Sean who played the part of the Least Desirable. I feel I can tell that, now.

Then, our first “official” guest was our buddy Jay Platt who was our Beer Guru for the first three years. That date was March 17, in which we went to Finnigan’s afterward to get some holiday time in and started really promoting the show. Jay was a quarterly regular and then moved monthly until circumstances led to him having to stop. I miss old Jay.

We started having guests regularly after a while and one of those was my buddy Eugene, whom other than The BCPF, I probably write the most about on this blog after myself. He became a fixture and co-host as the Official Third Wheel and TV Guru.

Brian eventually bettered himself and moved to Virginia leaving Eugene and me to tend the garden. We then added Caitlin to our fold and she became the Third Wheel. Eugene left and we brought Bruce in to replace him. Bruce was fun, but life took him back to Chi-town. Caitlin took the co-pilot chair and eventually another guest became a permanent fixture, that being Danielle.

With Caitlin, we always knew we were on a limited-time basis with her, because she was going to be moving once her degree was finished. We did get to milk her time for about a year longer than we thought and that was great

When Caitlin had to move, yet another past guest came in to take the Third Wheel seat, or as we call it now, the “Abuse Tim” chair. That would be Bethany and that’s where we are now. Danielle, Bethany and me, with a bevy of guests.

Tomorrow, we will record show #417. That’s more than and longer than any other podcast in this area and as far as I can tell, this state. Without that first one eight years ago, I wouldn’t produce Fan Interference, The Camel City Dispatch/Electric Camel Pod, Tart and Tangy Triad, The Beer Dads, Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking or The Man Who Ate the Town podcasts. With the exception of the CCD and T&TT podcasts, I still do the others as part of The Less Desirables Network.

There are more TLD podcasts and shows coming, whether as part of the TLD Network, a whole new podcast network or for individuals’ use. The future is bright, but I have to get busy, there’s a lot of podcasting to do, yet.

This Saturday, we are celebrating our eight-year fun, along with the rest of the network, our guests, our listeners and our people. We are doing that where the whole thing was conceived: Finnigan’s Wake. That’s where I pitched the idea to Brian and we planned its course. I am now inviting all of you to Finnigan’s to celebrate with us. The party is from 7-10, February 10. I really hope to see a lot of you there!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—“Voted the best pop culture podcast within a four-block radius in downtown Winston-Salem, this is The Less Desirables.” – TLD Announcer

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a post like this. Danielle has been awesome and has brought a few growlers of things for us to try over the last little bit and I can’t thank her enough for that. But, here we go…

I’ve had a few things from Southern Pines and I think I liked them. Then again, it’s beer and I like beer. I’m a sucker for stouts and milk stouts, too. So, here I am hoping that this week’s selection is nothing shy of fantabulous! The ABV is 5.6%.

BeerAdvocate has it at 3.83 out of 5 (Very Good). Untappd has it at 3.81 caps out of 5. Have you had it? What did you think? If you’ve not had it or just have a hankering for more, head on down to City Bev and grab your sixer.Tell them that it’s the “beer of the week” and get 5% off your order. Tune in tonight or tomorrow and see what Haydee, Danielle, Bethany and I think of it. It looks like Groot has already decided he wants some, too.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—“Smooth, sweet, and complex, the Prioress is full of wonderful caramel, toffee, and bitter dark chocolate flavors, leaving a lingering chocolate covered espresso bean quality. Heaps of oats and lactose provide a velvety mouthfeel that is rich and elegant.” – Southern Pines Brewing Company

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I would like to introduce to you the newest member of The Less Desirables… Bethany Miller!

Bethany Miller

Now, Dear Reader, I’m sure that you figured out that she has been a regular guest co-host pretty much since the first show after Caitlin left. The plan was to go with a rotating bevy of guest hosts and that would basically be “auditions” for the spot. But, Bethany kept showing up – which is a good thing – and she was engaging with the guests, she’s funny, she’s witty and she is not afraid to take shots at me, which as any listener to The Less Desirables knows, is imperative. So, throw out the “guest” part. She’s official! She’s the seventh person to hold the title of “co-host” (counting myself).

Bethany and her husband, JD, own Top Leaf Cigar Lounge and they offer a great place for people to go, purchase their high-quality cigars (not that Swisher Sweets stuff – not that there’s anything wrong with that), sit comfortably in a casual setting with people of like mind and enjoy camaraderie in this cigar smoking community. Bethany and JD know what they’re doing and they can guide you in your quest for the “perfect cigar” for you.

Danielle asked me, “can we keep her?” And, you don’t really tell Danielle “no.” Plus, I have been extremely happy with Bethany’s adopted role and she has taken up the mantle. So, welcome, Bethany Miller! Congratulations!

Of course, Wednesdays are usually beer day but Danielle is bringing a “Dealer’s Choice” tonight. Whatever she brings, you can pick it up at City Beverage. Listen tonight to hear what it is and what we think about it. And, if you haven’t yet, check out Bethany as our new co-host.